I inhaled deeply, then raised the chalice to my lips, hoping that whatever was in there wouldn't kill me. A swallow, and the taste of bittersweet mead ran down my throat. Honey and musky yeast, and rich apple. Blood and mugwort and cannabis. And… the faintest taste of mushrooms in the background.
As the liqueur rolled down my throat, an icy fire began to churn in my stomach, radiating out—javelins of pain and pleasure racing through my veins to lick at my toes, to flutter in my heart, to spread throughout my body like a butterfly unfurling its wings for the first time.
I looked up to see a web radiating between Titania, Morgaine, and me. It was forged of thousands of droplets of energy, and I realized we'd created our own version of the Ionyc Sea right here, to bridge the gap between our separate powers. I could feel them: Titania, relieved that she was recovering her essential self. She was angry at Morgaine, but she would work with her for the greater good. Morgaine was greedy, hungry to increase her strength, but her purpose was clear, and there was no love of Demonkin in her soul. She might be power hungry, but she wasn't going to hand us over to the enemy.
"Look at that. Can you see it?" Chase's whisper cut through the silence, and all three of us turned to stare at him, a warning to keep silent. Chase's eyes widened, and he backed up a step, but Smoky put his hand on the detective's shoulder to steady him.
I gazed into Smoky's eyes, and his lip twitched. He said nothing, but he pursed his lips and blew me an irreverent kiss. A halo of energy surrounded him. Mist rose from the hem of his trench coat, and within that mist I could see the swirls of dragon energy coiling, twisting, waiting for me.
As my gaze lightly passed from Smoky to Morio, to my sisters, I could see each in turn, the powers inherent within their souls cloaking their physical form. I loved them all, I realized. In differing ways, but even Chase, who showed a small pinkish halo of energy that told me he had some sort of power, even if he didn't know it yet. Human, yes, but still—he was an unrealized canvas.
"Are you ready?" Titania asked.
I turned back to the Fae Queen emeritus. "Let me prepare the horn."
She nodded.
I felt in my pocket for the horn of the Black Unicorn, and as I touched it, a sudden flare of fear and pain crashed through me. Feddrah-Dahns! I whirled to the others. "Feddrah-Dahns is out there, and he's in trouble. Go help him, now! I must stay here, but go find him. The demons are on the land."
Smoky took the lead, his long trench flowing in his wake, followed by Menolly and Delilah. Morio gave me a torn glance, then turned to Chase. "You stay here. With demons and will-o'-the-wisps out there in the dark, you don't stand a chance."
"He's right, Chase." I said. "Park it and get ready in case somebody barges into the cave."
Chase let out a deep sigh but merely gave me a quick nod as he watched the rest of them race out the door. He pulled out his nunchakus and crouched, facing the entrance to the cave.
I grasped the horn. We were almost out of time. No more time to ponder, to worry, to doubt. As my hand clasped the crystal spire, I thrust my essence inside the horn, seeking the chamber of mirrors. One second, two… and I was standing in the center, all four Elementals waiting for me. Eriskel was standing there, watching carefully.
"I need all four of you to shore my powers up. Strengthen my energy," I said. "I'm about to break an incredibly strong and ancient spell cast by Elemental Lords. I need the power to break through the wards and guards."
They bowed, without a word, and I felt their energy begin to stream through me. Kind of like being plugged into four different outlets at once.
I leapt out of the horn, back to my body, and to my surprise, the web of energy connecting me to Morgaine and Titania was now thick with colored beads. Earth mana, water energy, the power of air, the swords of fire—and all the energy was flowing directly into me.
Without a word, Titania handed me the sword. I stared at the spirit seal. The amethyst was set in a pendant that was affixed to the hilt, and the lights within the gem danced, sparking like a broken power line. The seal was alive, it knew I was here, and it was ready for use. For just a second, I was tempted to reach out, to tap into the seal and forge it to my own will, to make it my own. Then reason prevailed, and I turned my attention to the crystal spike within which Aeval had rested for so many thousands of years.
I raised the sword and focused on the crystalline grave. One swing, and it connected. "Wake!"
A loud hum filled the air, and I pulled back and swung again. "Break!" Again, silver and steel kissed crystal, and the chamber began to reverberate with harmonics as a loud ringing rippled through the cave.
"Third time's the charm!" I brought the sword across the crystal again.
There was a pause, a moment muffled in silence, and then the crystal began to shatter, shards of quartz shooting out like ammo from an AK-47. I stared as a vein spread like a spider web through the huge spike, and then there was one loud, thundering crack, and the rest of the crystal exploded.
As a howling wind rose to shake the cavern, I dropped the sword and fell to my knees. Titania and Morgaine went flying back as the explosion rebounded on us. The shock waves cascaded through my body like a series of punches. I raised my head, my ribs aching like a son of a bitch.
A swirl began to form around Aeval, a vortex of breath and life and magic. The fingers of mist touched her lips, parting them, and slid into her mouth. Her body convulsed as she sucked the mist into her lungs, swallowing it like some primal elixir. And then, Aeval's eyes fluttered—the color of snow and frost—and she opened them wide. Clad in a gown the color of the indigo night sky, she stepped out of the remains of the crystal like a ballerina dancing on toe point.
Tall she was, and dangerously beautiful. Her lips quirked in the faintest of grins as she surveyed her surroundings. Her gaze fell on Titania, and she let out a low trill of laughter.
"Well, and so I am free. And so are you. I take it we did not win the war?" She looked at me. "And who are you? Fae and yet…" She sniffed. "Half-breed. And not any sort of Fae that I've ever met."
Titania was on her feet in seconds, followed by Morgaine. "Aeval, there's no time to waste. We must reawaken the Courts. The balance is at stake."
Morgaine looked uncomfortable. "And what of me? I was willing to—"
"Hush…" Aeval brushed her hand over her lips as she looked at Morgaine, and Morgaine fell silent.
I glanced at my cousin. She hadn't shut up because Aeval asked her to. No, Aeval had cast a subtle spell, one that could instantly silence Morgaine. As I watched the Unseelie Queen, I began to realize that her powers hadn't been muted at all, merely frozen in time. And she was a very deadly woman. I backed up as her gaze turned to me.
"You gave me back my life. I owe you a favor, half-breed. You'd do well to keep it for later. It might just save your life someday."
My stomach churned. If I'd had a bottle of Turns, I would have upended it right there. Aeval was scary-freaky, all right, and I filed her warning away under Get Out Of Jail Free cards.
Titania quickly moved to put herself between the two of us. "We have much to talk about, my sister. And I include the sorceress Morgaine in that. She may not be full Fae, but she began the quest to raise the Courts, and I would not have you kill her. In the time you've been sleeping and I've been languishing, she's kept our memories alive."
Aeval considered Titania's words and nodded. "Very well. Let's go. I want out of this damned cave."
Titania turned to me. She pointed to the sword, her eyes warning me to keep silent. "You may have that—and what is affixed to it. Do as you will with both. We will be in touch soon." And with that, she put her arm around Morgaine's shoulders, and all three of them faded into a thick mist that swallowed them up.
I stared at the broken crystal, at the sword, and then over at Chase, who was crouching behind a rock. He jumped up and hurried over to my side.
"Are you okay? Camille? Do you need help?" He offered me his hand, and I slowly stood, testing to see if anything was amiss. The powers of the horn were beginning to fade; it would need recharging after that jaunt. And the dark of the moon would not come for nearly a month. The magic that had flowed into my hands as I struck the crystal had left me crisped through. Running the energy of four Elementals, as well as those from a Fae Queen and a powerful sorceress through my body had left me charred, every nerve raw and stinging.
I was about to answer when a noise at the entrance of the cavern startled both of us. As I struggled to raise what power I could, a figure burst into the cave. Chase jumped in front of me, his nunchakus raised, but then lowered them as the man moved into the light.
Benjamin Welter stood there, a wild look in his eyes. "Help me," he pleaded. "The demons are after me. And they're after the gem!"
Chapter Twenty-seven
"Benjamin!" I pushed around Chase, running over to Benjamin's side. The poor man had a wild look in his eyes, like the hounds of hell were chasing him. In a way, they were. Only much worse; demons made hellhounds look like a bunch of yapping poodles. "Get over there. Chase, help him find a hiding place."
If the demons were coming, I had to protect the seal. I grabbed up the sword, studying the welds that fixed the seal to the metal. Something clicked in the back of my mind, and I summoned up the last of my energy and brushed my hand across the seal.
"Release!"
The pendant came loose and fell into my hand. I stared at the spirit seal, wondering what the hell to do with it. If the others didn't come back, there was no way Chase and I could fend off the demons. I glanced around the cave. No good; they'd tear the place apart looking for it.
With no other choice, I slipped the seal down my bra, resting it between my breasts where it hummed lightly. They'd have to take me down to get their hands on it. I might not be able to muster up any more spells at this point—my energy was drained in a way it had never been before—but I had a sword, and I'd fight to the end.
"Do you think Titania will come back to help?" Chase asked, a catch of hope in his voice.
I wanted to tell him yes, to set his mind at ease, but in my heart I knew this was our fight. The Fae Queens weren't going to ride cavalry to our need. I shook my head. "Don't count on it. We have to hope the others return in time. Meanwhile, get behind me. I can take more damage than you can—"
"No. I won't be pushed aside time and again just because I'm human—" he started to say, but I turned on him.
"Listen: What good is it if they just cut right through you to get to me? If I go down, I go. But I can fight long enough to buy us all some extra time. Get it? We both have a better chance of surviving if I'm in front."
Without waiting for an answer, I whirled back to face the door. There was the sound of scuffling outside, and then Feddrah-Dahns and Mistletoe raced in. They took one look around, then hurried to our side.
"Are they coming?"
"Yes. The demons are in front of your sisters and friends. We tried to lead them away from the cave, but they seemed to sense that something happened. Whatever you were doing in here sent a ripple throughout the astral realms that must have been felt back in Otherworld." Feddrah-Dahns scuffed the floor with one had and whinnied.
"Hell, that means we've got to keep them occupied till Delilah and the rest get here. Warning—I don't have any magic left. I'm thoroughly drained. If I tried to summon down a bolt from the Moon Mother, I couldn't hold onto it, and I'd be fried to a crisp, along with anybody standing near." I inhaled deeply, holding the breath in my lungs to recharge me. The adrenaline was rushing through my body at least, keeping me on my feet.
"Noted. Mistletoe, take your place with the constable. Help him if you can." Feddrah-Dahns glanced at me, and I shot him a grateful smile.
As we waited, a bevy of thoughts raced through my mind. The fights were getting harder, the white and black hats more difficult to differentiate. We were all becoming slaves to the sword, but the only other option was so horrifying that we had no choice. Bloody warriors, bloody swords, bloody days.
No wonder spending my nights out at Smoky's seemed like a dream vacation to me—secure within a dream of mist and smoke that actually existed, that promised a sanctuary.
The image of Trillian loomed large in my mind, but I couldn't even muster up a single tear. I was all cried out. He was off facing goblins, I was here facing demons. Perhaps he had the better chance to live. Was he worried about me? Probably, but Trillian would face his fear and do what he needed to. And so would I. I wouldn't let him down. I'd make both him and my father proud.
As I straightened my shoulders, another movement at the door alerted me. The scent of jasmine and oranges and sugar vanilla wafted in on the breeze. They were here.
Karvanak strode into the room, followed by Vanzir and Jassamin. I swallowed the lump of fear that rose in my throat. They looked human, but that was mere illusion. They were ruthless killers, hungry for the seal, and it was my duty to keep them from getting it.
I held out my sword. "Come no further. You are not welcome here. Get your butt out of here, and we'll let you live."
Karvanak snorted. He began to shed his human form like a snake shed skin, and I found myself staring at a naked man's body with a tiger's head. His eyes narrowed, and he bared his teeth, pulling back his lips to snarl at me.
"We gave you enough time," Jassamin said. The djinn swung in beside her master. "You chose to ignore us."
Vanzir appeared on the other side. "Give us the seal now, and we'll make it easy." There was something in his voice—a hesitance, a pause, that made me give him a long look. He caught my gaze and held it, like in the parking lot, and I felt he was trying to tell me something, but I was too tired to understand.